Vaginal tampo-n



L. Kw Gm .I DA ET RL A PN .M C.A CV

(Model.)

Patented Sept. .2, 1890.

UNITED y STATES PATENT Fries.

CHARLES C. FREDIGK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

VAGINAL TAMPON.

-SPIECIFICVATIOII' forming part 0f Letters 'Patent NO. 435,491, dated September 2, 1890. Application 'led Maj 29, 1890. Serial No. 353,529. (Model.)

i reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This my invention relates to vaginal tampons for supporting .the womb and its adnexa; and it has for its object to provide a y tampon for such purpose that, after once inserted into the vagina, will be self-adjusting, and while supporting the womb will accommodate itself tothe surroundingorgans without interfering with the functions thereof during all positions and performances the female body may be subjected to, and that, after once inserted, will not rotate,-shift, or sink. or be expelled from any cause excepting by manual exertion; and with these objects in view my'invention consists of an elastic pear-shaped hollow body provided lwith a numb er of longitudinal ribs and corrugations,

which ribs are made partly more stii andv partly more elastic, according to the size andshape of the cavity of the vagina and the degree of pressure desirable to be exerted by the expanding force of the tampon after inserting while in a compressedcondition, at

the same time yielding to lateral compression during the contraction of the surrounding organs from any cause, and under all conditions providing a concaved bearing for the mouth of the womb, all as will be more fully hereinafterdescribedandspecitlcallyclaimed. In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a sectional view of the female pelvic organs, the body being in an erect position,with the bladder and rectum partially distended and with the tampon in position for supporting the womb. Fig. 2 represents aperspective view of my improved tampon; Fig. 3, a bottom View, and Fig. a a transverse section of the saine. Corresponding letters of reference in the severaltigu res of the drawings designate like parts.

A denotes the tampon, being of a shape somewhat like a pear1 with a blunt end a, and with its opposite end gradually tapering to an apex broad from side to side and flattened from front to rear and curving forward. On its anterior side, which is rather Hat, the tampon presents a broad concavity, depression, recess, or fossa c for the reception'of the urethra to protect it from pressure. rlhis surface c being transversely concave, is longitudinally convex toward end a and concave toward end b, and is anked on each side by a longitudinal rib cl to prevent prolapse of the anterior wall of the vagina and to support the bladder, which ribs d are called the nrethro-vesical ribs. On its posterior side the tampon has aconvexity characterized by three ribsone larger' middie rib e and two smaller ones f-termed the rectal ribs, which prevent prolapse of the posterior walls ofthe vaginaand are intended for the support of the womb.

The sides of the tampon are equal and are characterized by two ribs g-one on each side-termed the `ovarian ribs. All the ribs gradually taper in width toward both ends d and b. Near the inferior end or apex?) the posterior side of the tampon is perforated by. a series of apertures 7L, and when the instrument is in position within the vagina the inferior quarter of this convex posterior surface is continuous with `the sacro-coccygeal curve.Y This instrument, as has been show-n, t-hus presents a surface with seven ribs and seven corresponding depressions, of which the posterior middle rectal rib eis the longest and strongest, Then come the next two longest but weakest ribs f, which are also narrower than all the others. from the rear toward the front by the ovarian ribs g, which in their turn are succeeded by the urethro-vesical ribs e and f, which are the shortest.

These tampons I prefer to make of the best quality of india-rubber vulcanized, with the ,ribs d, @,f, and g for obtaining the desired stiifness or elasticity where required, to be either solid or 'hollowed out from the inside.

In the drawings I have thus shown the ribs d, c, andf solid, and the ribs g hollowed out; but I desire to be held neither to the exact number of ribs shown nor to what ribs, if any or'all, to be formed solid or hollow, and these ribs may be changed as to their forni, size, ydepth,or thickness, their relation to each "hese are succeeded lSe other, or their length to suit various cases and purposes. These ribs all originate in the apex b and disappear on the verge of the top surface, and are the widest at about one-third their entire length from end a. The anteroposterior diameter of the instrument being less than the transverse, the instrument is fiattencd from front to rear. Thus it is molded unlike all others, after the shape which the vagi nal cavity assu mes under atmospheric pressure while the body is in the knee-chest position, with such modifications of its size and surface as are dictated by the pathologic conditions to be met. Hence it may be placed in position and adjusted by the pati en ts thelnselves, after which it will not rotate, shift, or sink, and if a more special support to the womb and its adnexa is required, then its anterior surface may be lengthened at the expense of the posterior, and the same with the transverse surfaces, and so, also, may the surface a be changed, for instance, so as t0 form a concavity, or it may be perforated by. one or more apertures of various shapes or sizes.

The diameters of the instrument may be reduced to one-half by lateral compression7 producing a degree of expanding pressure which is not often. required, and it suiiees for the majority of cases to apply an instrument the antero-posterior diameter of which is onequarter of an inch larger than the correspending` diameter of the cavity to be fitted. The air having free ingress and egress, pressure from the top and front downward and backward shortens thc anterior and lengthens the posterior surface. Close contact, in spite Qf respiration, coughing, or straining, is thus maintained, extending over four-fifths of the entire surface of the vaginal tract, all of which is not the case with any device thus far manufactured. The urethro-vesical ribs d, as well as the ovarian ribs g, have their fulcrum in the apex() ot' the instrument when it is in position, while the instrument maintainsitself by its close impact upon the posterior wall of thevagina for its entire length from the posterior fornix to the fourchette and by its expanding pressure directed forward, upward, and laterally, thus narrowing the orifice of the vagina and preventing involuntary expulsion. Even with a laceration` of the perinzeum to and through the sphincter ani it can only be expelled bya strong eiort.

lVhen necessary, instruments can be made exerting a degree of pressure amounting to a pound or more per square inch of surface and requiring the combined strength of the thumb andindex and middlel lingersof apowerfnl handfor their application.

This instrument is of the proper size, when after introduction, in the knee-chest position, its apex barely touches the urethral wall of the vagina about one-quarter inch superior to the meatus.`

The surface of the top of the instrument, as well as its sides. may be perforated by apertures of various sizes, shapes, and number for various reasons to suit various indications.

This instrument, instead of being made of rubber, may also be made of other suitable material, and the ribs may be composed of any substance, such as gilded spiral steel wire or wire of aluminium.

In Fig. l of the drawings, A denotes the tampon, and B the womb, the mouth of which is supported on such tampon. C is the bladl der, and D the rectum, both partially distended. The arrows shown to be on a down course indicate the direction of pressure, as modified by the sacro-coccygeal curve and floor of the pelvis, exerted by the abdominal viscera upon the pelvis organs. The arrows shown to be on an up course indicate t-he direction of the resilient counter-pressure exerted by the anterior and superior surfaces of the pneumatic tampon, its convex posterior surface resting on the posterior wall of the vagina and its lower forward end closing the pelvic outlet.

The elastic pear-shaped hollow Vaginal tampon formed longitudinally with alternate ribs and corrugations and perforated at its pointed end for the ingress and egress of air, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES o. FREDIGK.

lVitnesses:

WM. II. Lorz,y O'r'ro LUEBKERT. 

